"During the first Clinton administration, Professor Blacker served as special assistant to the president for National Security Affairs and Senior Director for Russian, Ukrainian and Eurasian Affairs at the National Security Council (NSC). At the NSC, he oversaw the implementation of U.S. policy toward Russia and the New Independent States, while also serving as principal staff assistant to the president and the National Security Advisor on matters relating to the former Soviet Union.

"He has held fellowships at Harvard University, Stanford University and the Council on Foreign Relations. In 1993 he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Russian Academy of Sciences for his work on U.S.-Russian relations. He is a graduate of Occidental College (AB, Political Science) and the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy (MA, MALD, PhD)." [1]